The Art of War, Week #2 [Period 3, Monday]

[atreideslioness]

"Good morning, students," Ghanima said as the class started.  "Welcome back, I'm glad to see I did not frighten any of you off.  Today we are starting with the first chapter, 'Laying Plans.'"

"War."  Ghanima surveyed them sharply, making sure she had everyone's full attention.  "The term calls to mind battlefields and generals.  The most successful battles, however, are not fought with soldiers, but behind closed doors with words.  They are the battles you never hear about, because there is no glory to them."

"There is the war of the sexes, the war between companies and corporations, economic wars, ideological wars, political wars, and wars between the social classes, all of which tend to start on a more basic level, and escalate to the stereotype.  Whether you are wooing a romantic partner or a business rival, or meeting an enemy with your weapon drawn, the same principals hold true."


"The Art of War."  Picking up a well-loved red book from her desk, Ghanima flipped it open to her marked page and began reading.  "The art of war, then, is governed by five constant factors, to be taken into account in one's deliberations when seeking to determine the conditions obtaining int he field.  These are:  One - The Moral Law.  Two - Heaven.  Three - Earth.  Four - The Commander.  Five - Method and Discipline."  She snapped the book shut and placed it beside her.

"The Moral Law," she announced, hopping off her desk, "causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler, so that they will follow him regardless of their lives, undismayed by any danger."

"Heaven and Earth are metaphors for the conditions you face, which is slightly more applicable to physical confrontations.  However, if you view each type of terrain as a mental condition, you will have a large advantage over your opponent," Ghanima said briskly as she walked through the rows, hands gesturing as she spoke.  "Heaven signifies night and day, cold and heat, times and seasons, whereas Earth comprises distances, great and small; danger and security; open ground and narrow passes; the chances of life and death."

"The Commander stands for the virtues of wisdom, sincerely, benevolence, courage and strictness."

"By method and discipline, it is to be understood that it means the marshaling of the army in its proper subdivisions, the graduations of rank among the officers, the maintenance of roads by which supplies may reach the army, and the control of military expenditure."

"These five heads should be familiar to every general," she recited, eyes glowing bright for a moment.  "He who knows them will be victorious; he who knows them not will fail." 

"Now, when you take these five factors, you must decide how to apply them.  Luckily for us, Sun Tzu provided seven ways you can weigh them before making your decision." 

"First, which of the two sovereigns is imbued with the Moral law?  Who has the army and the populace behind them?  Because without the support of your people, you cannot win."  Ghanima turned to face all of them as she leaned against a wall.  "I cannot stress that point enough.  Even if it is simply your friends, or the other members of your company, you will win nothing without the support of your 'troops', if you will."

"The others are more basic; which of the two generals has most ability? With whom lie the advantages derived from Heaven and Earth?  On which side is discipline most rigorously enforced?  Which army is stronger?  On which side are officers and men more highly trained?  In which army is there the greater constancy both in reward and punishment?

"Now, I'd like you to pair up, and discuss which of the five constant factors you feel to be the most important, and why."


[OOC:  For those of you reading along at home, here's a condensed version of Art of War.  *cuddles her copy*  Please wait for the OCD to go up, before you run wild!]

Comments

Sign-In #2

[atreideslioness]

In a commanding fashion.

Re: Sign-In #2

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan Nolan

During the Lecture

[atreideslioness]

Take notes, pass notes, raise your hand with a question, stare at the very scary woman.

Re: During the Lecture

[intraspective]

Ino was taking notes. A lot of them.

And planning on hitting up the bookstore for a copy of the book. Seriously.

Re: During the Lecture

[momslilassassin]

Ben listened and took notes, wondering idly if this was some of the arcane knowledge Jacen had picked up on his journeys.

He'd certainly gotten himself into a position of power fairly quickly.

Re: During the Lecture

[weetuskenraider]

Tahiri had no idea what she could actually say in response to any of this without giving herself a massive split-personality headache. Because while she could think of one response, wow could Riina Kwaad have a few choice rebuttals, and she really didn't want to go there.

She was taking notes today, but with one hand propping her head up as she worried at her lower lip with her teeth.

Re: During the Lecture

[talon-wraith.livejournal.com]

Lots and lots of notes. Lots.

Re: During the Lecture

[walks-two-paths.livejournal.com]

Savannah was indeed taking lots of notes.

Re: During the Lecture

[stupid-toasters.livejournal.com]

Lee started really taking notes now. They weren't the best notes and sometimes he got sidetracked with applying some of the concepts to his home but there were notes.

Re: During the Lecture

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

Ella listened closely. This was a little frightening, but very interesting and, it seemed, useful.

Re: During the Lecture

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Liir was listening intently and considering what she'd said, applying it to his own memories and experience. It seemed a good method for dealing with most situations, in truth, to consider all the factors in such a way.

He was, in short, very interested. And might grab a copy while at work on Friday.

Re: During the Lecture

[im-afrog.livejournal.com]

Adam was taking notes. He had a feeling his hand was going to be hurting, due to all the writing he was doing.

Re: During the Lecture

[finding-x-dream.livejournal.com]

Agnes took lots and lots of very detailed notes. This Sun Tzu guy sounded MUCH more intelligent than General Tacticus.

...But less practical. She raised her hand with a question. "The Moral Law causes the people to be in complete accord with their ruler??? SERIOUSLY? Is he delusional?"

Re: During the Lecture

[solo_sword]

Okay, maybe Jaina should start taking notes. Still, she was definitely listening, thinking this was pretty important.

Re: During the Lecture

[athosborn.livejournal.com]

Teyla had learned how important notes were in these classes, and was doing her best to keep up.

Re: During the Lecture

[blackmagic-eve.livejournal.com]

This? Was Eve. This was also Eve taking lots and lots of notes.

Re: During the Lecture

[notyourpawn.livejournal.com]

The more notes she took, the more Alice's fingers itched for a blade.

Pair-Up!

[atreideslioness]

Find a partner, and discuss the five factors!

Re: Pair-Up!

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan looked around, ready to pair up with someone.

Re: Pair-Up!

[intraspective]

Ino glanced around for a partner, tapping her pencil idly against the edge of her desk.

Re: Pair-Up!

[wantstodirect]

Tony looked around to see if Myn had made it to class today.

Re: Pair-Up!

[ella-obeys.livejournal.com]

Ella leaned forward over her notebook, looking for a partner.

Talk to the TA

[atreideslioness]

Once he pings in.

Re: Talk to the TA

[raspberryturk]

Reno was there, lounging back casually against his desk, and wondering how he could get a copy of that book for himself.

It seemed useful, was all.

Talk to Ghanima

[atreideslioness]

She's here, both before and after class.

Re: Talk to Ghanima

[intraspective]

Ino wandered up after class. "Atreides-sensei? Which factor do you think is the most important one?"

OOC

[atreideslioness]

Can we rewind to Friday, please?